DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATORDiscrete Distance Calculator Introduction Discrete distance is the time allotted for movement between points on the warehouse map. This time is based upon engineered standards which take elements such as travel distance, job code and machine into consideration. For troubleshooting purposes, the discrete distance calculator lets you quickly determine the discrete distance between two location points. This may be desired if, for example, after running the Audit Trail report, you question the discrete travel time allotted between two location points. You use Calculate Discrete Distance to calculate the discrete distance between two location points of the warehouse map. In This Chapter Workforce Management User Guide Topic Page Calculate Discrete Distance 2 073108 Page 1 DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR Calculate Discrete Distance Description When you use Calculate Discrete Distance, you select • two different Location IDs • an aisle area or pick pattern • a job code or park point, and • a machine ID. Once you have made these selections, you can find the discrete distance and, in the grid view, view the Page 2 • travel distance, TMUs and type • minimum and maximum walk distances • one-way travel distance • walking and riding park point • constant velocity • X and Y coordinates of source • distance to and from the end of the source aisle • source pick type, and • source and destination aisle areas. 073108 Workforce Management User Guide DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR Example: Calculate Discrete Distance Window Workforce Management User Guide This image is an example of the Calculate Discrete Distance window. 073108 Page 3 DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR Controls: Calculate Discrete Distance Window Page 4 This table describes the controls on the Calculate Discrete Distance window. Control Description Location From Starting location point in the warehouse map for the discrete distance calculation. Job Code ID Unique identifier for the job code. A job code represents a standard for a task being performed in your facility, and it is the basic component for an assignment. Aisle Area ID Unique identifier for the aisle area. Machine ID Unique identifier for the machine type. A machine is a gas- or electric battery-powered material handling unit used for picking, depositing or transporting product within a warehouse. Location To Ending point in the warehouse map for the discrete distance calculation. Park Point Coordinate value used to identify the point at which a machine will optimally be located whenever a user performs work assigned to this job code. Park Point is used in distance calculations when traveling from bay to bay. These are the valid values: Use Bay XY, Use Location XY and Use Park Point XY. Pick Pattern Type of pick pattern used for this Aisle Area ID. These are the valid values: Cross-Aisle Pick = Type of slotting procedure in a warehouse where the sequence of location numbers moves back and forth in the aisle, U Pick = Type of slotting procedure in a warehouse where the sequence of location numbers forms a "U" shape, Z Pick = Type of slotting procedure in a warehouse where the sequence of location numbers forms a "Z" shape. Warehouse ID (Display only) Unique identifier associated with the warehouse. In a multi-warehouse environment, you can select the warehouse(s) for which you are authorized. 073108 Workforce Management User Guide DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR Procedure To calculate discrete distance 1. Start Calculate Discrete Distance. 2. In the Location From box, type or look up the point in the warehouse map from which to calculate a discrete distance. 3. In the Location To box, type or look up the point in the warehouse map to which to calculate a discrete distance. 4. Take one of these actions: • From the Aisle Area list, select the aisle area that will be used as the default when none is specified in the host assignment download. • From the Pick Pattern list, select the type of pick pattern used for the Aisle Area ID. 5. Take one of these actions: • From the Job Code list, select the identifier for the job code. • From the Park Point list, select the value used to identify the point at which a machine will optimally be located within the bay whenever a user performs work assigned to this job code. 6. From the Machine ID list, select the identifier of the machine that will be used. 7. Click Workforce Management User Guide , and then in the grid view, view the details. Column Description Travel Distance Distance, in inches1, between the starting and ending locations. Travel TMUs Distance, in TMUs1, between the starting and ending locations. Travel Type Type of travel. These are the valid values: N = None (walking). R = Riding. End Location ID Unique identifier of the ending location. One Way Travel Indicates whether the machine is limited to one-way travel. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. These are the valid values: 0 = Machine travel is not limited to one direction. 1 = Machine travel is limited to one direction. Minimum Walk Distance Minimum distance, in inches1, that a worker is allowed to walk without the machine in order to get to the next piece of work. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. Maximum Walk Distance Maximum distance, in inches1, that a worker is allowed to walk without the machine in order to get to the next piece of work. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. Walking Park Point Constant Time constant, in TMUs1, that is applied to each machine move in which the distance between locations is greater than the Minimum Walk Distance. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. 073108 Page 5 DISCRETE DISTANCE CALCULATOR 1 Column Description Riding Park Point Constant Time constant, in TMUs1, that is applied to each machine move in which the distance between locations is greater than the Maximum Walk Distance. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. Constant Velocity Constant loaded velocity, in TMUs per inch1, for the machine that the worker is using. The value must be greater than or equal to zero. This value is set in Machine Maintenance. X Coordinate of Source X warehouse coordinate for the starting location. Y Coordinate of Source Y warehouse coordinate for the starting location. Distance to End of Source Aisle Distance, in inches1, between the starting location and the end of the source aisle. Distance from End of Source Aisle Distance, in inches1, between the end of the source aisle and the ending location. Source Pick Type Type of pick for the starting location. Source Aisle Area Identifier for the aisle area in which the starting location is located. Destination Aisle Area Identifier for the aisle area in which the ending location is located. This is the default measurement unit. Your system configuration may be different. 8. Analyze the displayed information and, if there is a problem, contact an industrial engineer to check whether the warehouse map has been built properly. Page 6 073108 Workforce Management User Guide